2017 White Elephant Ball Tamworth lead by fresh committee

Over the past three years, the White Elephant Ball has become a staple of the Tamworth social calendar and in the process has raised more than $300,000 for charity Batyr, who educate and engage people to have positive conversations about mental health issues.

The annual fund raiser is the only support the New England branch of the organisation receives. It may sound like a daunting task, but the new committee organising this year’s ball is looking forward to continuing the event’s legacy.

The new team is made up of (pictured from left) Meghan Leary, Hiliary Thornberry, Tayla Maloney, Lucinda Nash, Phoebe George, Kate Miles and Tom McDouall.

“It makes it a bit easier when you’ve got a good reputation,” Ms Nash said.

“We’re all passionate about mental health – I think everyone knows someone who goes through mental health issues at some point, particularly in a region city,” Ms Leary said.

The ball already has a successful formula, but the committee will be looking to “mix it up a little bit”, with a yet-to-be announced theme and guest speaker.

“We’ll try to put our own touch on it, and just try to make it bigger and better than previous years,” Mr McDouall said.

The ball was established in 2014 in memory of Scotty Campbell, a well-known Tamworth man who lost his battle with depression in 2013. Ball founder and Mr Campbell’s widow, Katrina Warmoll, said it was time for her and the previous committee members to pass on the baton.

“Emotionally it’s draining bringing something from the past up every year,” she said.

“I think it’s fun and exciting other people are willing to take it on. They’re younger, so they’ll look at things from a different perspective and have fresh ideas.”

Mrs Warmoll said she was incredibly proud to see how far the ball had come. Despite all the effort that went into organising the first year, she wasn’t even sure if anyone would buy a ticket – last year all 570 tickets sold out in three minutes.

This year’s event is on July 8, tickets go on sale on June 8. Anyone interested in sponsorship, or donating an item for auction, can contact the group via the 2017 White Elephant Ball Facebook page.